Push button



March 19, 1929. c. BATEHOLTS PUSH BUTTON Fiied April 13, 192? Fatented Mar. 19, 1929.

CLINTON BATEHOLTS, or noosrcx FALLS,

SULATION MANUFACTURING COMPANY, me, on

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PATENT OFFICE.

NEW YORK, .assreivon To SPECIALTY IN- HOOSICK FALLS, NEW YORK, A

PUSH BUTTON.

Application filed April 13,

This invention relates to improvements in push buttons. More particularly it relates to push buttons which are suitable for use as switch elements for making and breaking an electric circuit, by hand or mechanical operation. The invention, for example, may be mounted on the steering post of an automobile for convenient and positive control of a horn, a warning light, a dimmer system, or the like, or may be adapted for wall, desk, clamp or other mounting.

It is an object of the invention to provide a simplified structure whereby such push buttons may be manufactured at small cost, and will be compact and secure in assembly, and attractive in appearance, as well as posi tive and certain in operation. An important feature, resulting from simplicity and reduction of parts, is that the possibility or breakage or disarrangement of elements is reduced to a minimum.

These objects are attained by employinga single piece body of insulating material which is recessed to receive the head of the button proper, also of insulating material, and which has an axial hole forming a guide for a shank on the button which shank extends into said axial hole and has its end headed or spread in an enlargement of said hole to prevent escape or removal of the button. A single piece spring in the form of a disk or table with integral spring legs is interposed between the head of the button and the bottom of the recess in the body, and two terminal contacts, with lead-ins from without, are suitably arranged at the bottom of said recess, under the table, in position to be engaged and connected by the table when the button is depressed. The spring table serves the double function of maintaining the electric circuit open under normal conditions and of completing the circuit when the button is depressed.

Although the invention is illustrated as it may be applied to the type described, wherein the circuit is normally open, the important features involved in the spring are not limited to use in this embodiment. s

It is intended that the patent shall cover by suitable expression in the appended claims whatever features of patent-able novelty exist in the invention disclosed.

1927. Serial No. 183,341.

In the drawings: I Figure 1 is an elevation in medial section,

of a push button embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan with the button removed;

Figure 3 is a perspective of the spring element per se; and

Figure 4 is a vertical section of a modifica tion of the device, with lower part of the base broken away. 7

Referring to the drawing, a single piece body 10, of insulating material, preferably molded of a synthetic composition, has a recess as at 12, from the bottom of which an axial hole 14 extends through the body, the lower portion of which is enlarged as at 15 and has an internal thread to receive the end of a support (not shown) which may be the steering post of an automobile or anything else desired. A hexagonal formation 10" on the body 10 facilitates attachment to-or removal from its support, as a nut. A button 16 loose in the recess 12 and projecting a little from it for convenience of the operator, is held in by a shank 16 which passes inward through a central hole in a spring table 18 which lies under it within the recess and then further in through the axial hole in the body 10, beyond which, at a suitable distance to allow needed play, it is mush-roomed to engage said body in a recess at the further end of this axial hole. The button and table lie together and push each other in and out as a unit. Two contact terminals 20 in the bottom of the recess are arranged under the table so as to be engaged and connected electrically thereby when the button is depressed. Conducting wires 22 may enter the recess to these terminals from any direction through the body 10 and may be permanently secured to the terminals. As represented they enter horizontally through holes in the side wall and lie in grooves 12 in the bottom of the recess. The shank of the button is tubular and is spread at its lower end, after being inserted, to maintain the button slidably in the recess. The upper end may be secured to the but-ton by being spread before the button is molded about it.

The particular constructionv of spring 18 constitutes an important feature in the attainment of simplicity, compactness and low cost. It requires merely the stamping of a 60 screwed into the threads 15. In'either posiperforated disk from a sheet of phosphor bronze or otherspring metal, with three equalout of the-plane of the disk to form legs for vthe remainder of the disk.

The free ends constitute feet to rest fiatwise on the bottom of recess 12 in body 10. They are located so as not to contact with the terminals 20. I o ensure that they do not move into contact one of them may be further bent sharply down ward at its end to provide a prong 'or toe 18 which engages in a-pit l2 'in 'therec'ess bottom, thereby to positionthe "spring with its grooves 12 in the recess bottom are outof the way of the spring when the latter is depressed by the button; and their permanent attach ment tothe terminals 20, which are metallic screws or pins set in wells in the bottom ofthe recess makes the likelihood of a break of con necti-o-ns practically nilafter the device as whole has once been assembled.

, In the completed article the wires and contests are efiectively insulated, and yet cannot fail to be connected'electrically when the button isd'epressed and they areall held 'securely'a'nd permanently in their assembled and operative position'by: the mere expanding of the bottom end of the tubularshank let. The thread 15, permits of the button being mounted wherever it designermay wishto use it, avit h the-button 16in position to be.

depressed, either by the-operators finger or I by any suitable mechanical element.

' Although herein illustrated as applied to apparatas inwhich the depressing of the button'16 closes a circuit, the same principles can be applied' forthejrevers'e'operation of open-mg a circuit which is'normally closed,

orfor breaking one circuit and making another as is possible for switching tooccur on either or both sides "of the central division containing the terminals The recess at either end-of the body can be made large enough for containing the table,

. and the-terminals can extend'intoi either recess for theswitch contact. The button can be made topush the table toward the contacts, by puttingthe terminal and disk in the recess wherein the button is; or to push the disk away from the terminals, to breaka circuit, by putting terminals and disk normally in,

i spring contact together in the recess remote from the button. In'the latter caseth-e disk would be imperiorate, would be pushed away from theterminals by the end of the shank of the-button, and would be supported by a plug In Figur-e 4. the button M overhangs the and retaining elemendggv identical with those having'integra lspring struts tending tomo vei legs out of contactwith terminalsQO a'nd to' prevent its turning. Thewires 22- lying'in and constituting spring: legs tending toziholdfk ingan area covering the recess, having saidfterminals and spread apartr tendingt0? said terminals;

to the contacts body 26 with certaintyof operatingupoh be; i U

ing touched incase' thedriver' does not touch]? j '7 i j exactly inthe-middle. It is provided on its underside-with an annularagroove' 28zwithin f1 whichthe upperportion of body 26 is received when the button is depressed, and the portion surrounded by the groove extends; into. the button-holdingrecess '30 with spring;

heretofore described i a i I claimvas my invention: j 1 a .LI 1; 1A push buttoncomprising an insulating body; electric terminals therein,a single 7 i movable contaict element for connecting them, V

button I button being slidably 1 mountedin-thebody and said struts being arranged" between said button and saidterminals and adapted-to hold; said element. andsaidbut-Q 1 ton yieldingly away :from saidl'terminals: i

1 bined with button gitthere; 5

fI-OIDftllG said spring comprisingia metallic 7 disk having marginal portions sheared para tiallyi from "it and displaced from its;pl ane,

it inthe said normalpositionwimrespect'to the-electrical terminalsi l j T1 3 .7 3o-Apushbutton, comprising an insulats ingbody having a recess with electric te'rminals on itsbottom a: button and means hold- 7 ing it loosely the-recess said button havohitsunderfacea'conductingmaterial with iii a: plurality of sprmg legsstandjng on, tllez. a bottom of thegrecessxin locations'avoiding.

hold? the button parallel tojthe bottom 01: the" "recess, and: at a distance where itsi'saidcon:

ducting material is out ofcontact with'the l 1 A push" button comprisin'g an insulat 7 ingbodyrhaving'arecess witha-central-per fora-tion in its bottom, and withelectricitere 'minals on itsbottom; a -composition button loosely filling the mouth-0f the recess; means" holdingthe buttonmov'ably in position, con1; prising ,ametallic tube. passing] loosely through said PGIfOI'iLtlOIlly. having one end c? firmlysecuredto thebntton'ibybeingexpand V ed and embedded in the composition; thereof, and having, its other end loosely-secured to= ing body 1 having a vrecess"with? a: central .per i3o 80'1" it so as to disconnect themyand'an operatingw' 3 foration in its bottom, and with electric terminals on its bottom; and a conducting table standing on said bottom with its top overlying the said terminals and having spring legs which tend to maintain said top of table parallel to said bottom of recess and yieldingly out of Contact with said terminals; and a button overlying said table, loosely filling the mouth of said recess, having a guiding shank extending into said central perforation, said button having an annular groove in its under face, surrounding the said table and arranged to register with and to receive the top of the Wall of said body which surrounds said recess.

Signed at Hoosick Falls, New York, this 7th day of April, 1927.

CLINTON BATEHOLTS. 

